On the Lam, 56.6 - Offseason Ch-ch-ch-changes

[trmmilwwi]

Changes Coming this Offseason

As we turn the page on the second straight 79-83 season we will certainly see a few changes in the roster. Last year the team lost veteran Catcher Charles Johnson to free agency when he signed a 5 year, $68M deal with Montreal. The Blazers earned 4.4 of WAR from the 35 year old so most would say he was a great addition, and a huge loss for the Outlaws. The other player that left last year was veteran 2B Billy McKay. Interesting fact about McKay that I just noticed is that he is generated player number 50,000. There you go for a random factoid. McKay signed a 6 yr, $60M deal and then promptly got injured for 9 months. Dodged a bullet on that one.

Anyways, what veterans, starters or useless players will the Outlaws lose this offseason? The most well known is one that has flamed out at the end of his career and ultimately will not be missed much. 3B Alex “Mirror” Ramirez is a fading reflection of himself in this, his 20th year in the BBA. He has played with 9 different franchises and likely will not get to see 10. His ratings took a hit this season and by the end of the year he was just a veteran in the dugout carrying sunflower seeds. The ironman who played more than 150 games or more in a season a whopping 16 times will likely retire as he becomes a free agent. Who knows, maybe he decides to go to the GBC and earn a few more bucks. His negative WAR will not be missed.

CFer Michael Noel will not be spending Christmas in an Outlaw uniform as his current 5 year deal that was originally signed when he was with the Cougars is no longer in place, nor are the Cougars interestingly. Noel performed admirably since being brought over from Oysterland in a trade during the ’54 season. The Outlaws squeezed some merriness out of the veteran who earned 0.8 WAR this last season, 2nd best over the last 10 years of play. His .276/7/33 stat line was nothing to sneeze about but the writing is on the wall with young prospect Lee Mcintyre waiting in the wings.

The other players who will be looking for employment are a bunch of veteran pitchers who have been rented out to see if there was any value left. Tak-keung Liao can tak-ing out his career 1.1 WAR elsewhere. Veteran Juan Manuel will likely get a chance with another club as the 35 year vet was somewhat serviceable. Vet John McClain will also likely get a tryout somewhere where the Bruce Willis clone will hold down a 5th spot in someone’s bullpen while he waits for Hans Gruber to track him down.

Overall it will not be a departure of higher end talent like last year. Does that mean we’ll actually get to that 80th win, probably not.

[Lane]

looks like it's finally time for Ramirez to hang it up. Rumor has it that the Hall of Fame has already prepped his plaque and he's wearing a Surfers hat...

[indiansfan]

I could use a guy like Noel next season.